Convert 3MF to DAE in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read 3MF files and write DAE, carrying the mesh data across without re-tessellating it.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads 3MF · Writes COLLADA
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
3MF to DAE at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| 3MF (source) | COLLADA (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | 3D Manufacturing Format | COLLADA Digital Asset Exchange |
| Standard / owner | 3MF Consortium, ISO/IEC 25422 | Khronos Group, ISO/PAS 17506 |
| File extensions | .3mf | .dae, .zae |
| Geometry | Triangle mesh | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Objects and build items | Yes: scene hierarchy |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from 3MF to COLLADA.
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Preserved
Mesh dataThe 3MF facets are read and written to DAE without being re-tessellated.
Why software vendors add 3MF to DAE conversion
Lightweight review
COLLADA carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.
Sharing outside engineering
Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A COLLADA file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.
Easier handling of large assemblies
Without exact surfaces and feature data, COLLADA files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.
Things to check before you ship
- Written DAE versions: COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
- The DAE writer is available through the UConnect interface only.
- Supported 3MF input: 3MF 1.1.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is a 3MF (.3mf) file?
3MF is an open format for additive manufacturing, defined by the 3MF Consortium. It stores triangle meshes with units, colors and build information in a single package.
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Target format
What is a DAE (COLLADA) file?
COLLADA (.dae) is an XML-based open format from the Khronos Group for exchanging 3D scenes: meshes, materials, cameras and lights. It is common in visualization and AR/VR pipelines.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the 3MF facets as visualization data and writes them to DAE.
The DAE writer is available through the 3D InterOp UConnect interface.
Per-facet colors are imported. Textures and materials aren’t.
3D InterOp reads 3MF 1.1, as visualization data.
3D InterOp writes COLLADA 1.4.1 (.dae).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so DAE to 3MF is supported too.
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Building software that needs to convert 3MF to DAE?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read 3MF and write COLLADA alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.